Tutorial to use network path on linux

[GDurrens]

I've been trying to use network path to avoid sync all the time without success. Would it be possible to have a bit more explanation on how it works ? My folder is shared with samba but I can't seem to open a network blend file.. Thank you again for your work that little software is very promising

[LogicReinc]

Ill see if I can write out a proper guide soon. Its mostly an OS/Configuration issue. If you can access the files in windows explorer (or terminal on linux), then it should work with BlendFarm. Do note that all nodes use the exact same paths. If it doesn't work in your OS, then it won't work in BlendFarm.

Also make sure you can actually open the files, as permissions might be blocking it.

[qcdebug]

A note to this, I've added about 10 nodes on "networked mode" and three of them failed with "blend file not available" when they are using known good locations which are the same as the other nodes that do work. It's possible that GDurrents is running into something similar.

[LogicReinc]

@qcdebug My guess is that those 3 computers have different permissions/default accounts which may cause conflicts. Its very hard to determine issues with Networked mode because it is handled by the operating system, not by my software. Generally, if you can open the BlendFile on the render node with the same account that runs the BlendFarm software it should work as expected.

Network shares can be very finicky and sensitive between different operating systems and settings. This is the main reason I don't recommend it if it can be helped, despite its advantages.

[qcdebug]

I stopped and restarted it (cancel, start animation) with no changes to the share and they all picked up the file and started running. I don’t know what caused it but be it the software (possibly blender) or the OS it appears that the software reporting it can make it look like the software is having problems.

I know the shares are good because that’s my ISO directory for the whole cluster and is both read and write.

I’ll be happy to do additional testing if you need but I haven’t seen it do that since the initial request failed.

I have seen errors where it appears to be looking for files with a random hex code on it when using network mode, I suspect this is the non “live render” function in action. I expect the “offline” function makes a copy with a random then renders it while the main blend can be worked on.

Sorry for the tangent, that’s purely just my guess on things.

From: LogicReinc @.> Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2023 11:28 AM To: LogicReinc/LogicReinc.BlendFarm @.> Cc: qcdebug @.>; Mention @.> Subject: Re: [LogicReinc/LogicReinc.BlendFarm] Tutorial to use network path on linux (Issue #53)

@qcdebug https://github.com/qcdebug My guess is that those 3 computers have different permissions/default accounts which may cause conflicts. Its very hard to determine issues with Networked mode because it is handled by the operating system, not by my software. Generally, if you can open the BlendFile on the render node with the same account that runs the BlendFarm software it should work as expected.

Network shares can be very finicky and sensitive between different operating systems and settings. This is the main reason I don't recommend it if it can be helped, despite its advantages.

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[LogicReinc]

When Networked mode is enabled. Sync is replaced with the following process:

• The client creates a copy of the file with a slightly different name (it adds a session id).
• It then sends a package to each render node with the paths you set for every respective platform.
• Each render node will check if the file exists on the expected location (Using the right OS path), and reply success if the file is found on that location
• If all nodes are successful, the nodes are considered synced, and rendering can start

Instead of using a local .blend file obtained through Sync, it will now use the .blend file directly from the network path.

So the most likely cause is a share malfunctioning (or permissions), since no transfer of files happens, and its just OS calls. Another possible bug would be that it is not copying the file properly, but I'd need to investigate it further, it seems unlikely.

[qcdebug]

I had an error when specifying the location where it couldn't find the file in the share as it mangled the folder name with the share ID, I did not have an error if I specifiyed the full location including the blend file name of the original blend, I did not try the session id one.
Granted I haven't fully dug into the documentation on how that function works but it seems like there may be a question on expected behavior. I have this working how I need now that I'm opening the client out of the blend in the shared directory. Just an observation, I'll be happy to test the various OSes and see what comes back if you like.

[Charmandrigo]

the path logically is mounted to gvfs on ubuntu, but this path still fails, the server fails to open the file as it seems on the mount point you can't rw files, only on the smb:// point on the address, it appears that the mount point does not allow editing files, it might default to a guest user to prevent unauthorized editing. this software should support just straight up placing the smb:// address